Fluid dispensing apparatus



April 4` 1939.

C. F. POLLNOW FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1938 INVENTOR CHARLES F. PoLLNow ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS poration of Missouri Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,495

Claims.

This invention relates generally to uid dise pensing apparatus. More particularly, my present invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in apparatus of the type shown in 5 United States design Letters Patent No. 85,767 and mechanical Letters Patent No. 1,919,257, of July 25, 1933, adapted especially, though not eX- clusively, for the dispensing of liquid soap and the like, and has for its principal objects the provision of a fluid dispensing apparatus of the type mentioned including a fluid-container closure-cap equipped as aunitary, economical, durable, and artistic structure, with a bracket uniquely not only formed with main and secondary fluid-now motivating and regulating ducts and valves, but also so constructed for selective container-mounting upon either a stationary or a portable support, and the improvement and simplification generally of fluid dispensing apparatus of the class referred to.

lAnd with the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is an assembled View of a fluid dispensing apparatus of my invention as installed for use in connection with a stationary washstand;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the apparatus installed as in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view of the installed container and its associated parts of the apparatus, taken approximately along the line 3 3, Figure 2, showing also a fragmentary portion of the normally substantially concealed pump-conduit;

Figure 4 is an assembled View of the apparatus in connection selectively with a portable or movable dispensing-stand; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly broken away and in section, of the fluid-dispenser and stand of Figure 4.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates practical embodiments ofmy invention, the present soap-dispensing apparatus includes, as in the dispensing apparatus of said Letters Patent, a suitable receptable A for containing a quantity of the liquid soap or other fluid B to be dispensed in convenient predetermined quantities, the dispensed soap B being motivated from the container "A through a preferably swingable spout or conduit C by the agency of air under pressure applied to the surface of the contained liquid soap B by means of pneumatic pressure applying means D, and the quantity of soap B dispensed from the container A on ow of air or like uid in the 5 means D being controlled and regulated as presently more fully appearing.

Forming substantially a part of the receptacle or container A, is a cap E having a preferably integrally joined radially projecting bracket-extension E for attachment of the capE selectively to a support, such, for instance, as the rear-apron l of a wash-stand, basin, or the like F, as shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, or to a stand G, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The cap E also has a depending annular flange e suitably interiorly threaded for detachable connection with the co-operatively threaded, preferably diametrically reduced neck a of the soapcontaining receptacle or reservoir A, the cap E thus operatively supporting the container A in depending dispensing position, as shown, and also forming a closure-cap for the otherwise open neck a of the container A.

An annular gasket 2 is preferably interposed between the upper margin of the container-neck a and the under face of the end wall of the cap E for sealing the container A against escape of air, liquid, or other fluid, and, as best seen in Figure 3, the side Wall or flange e of the cap E has an eX- tended skirt 3 for not only facilitating engagement between the container A and cap E, but also for protecting the neck-portion a of the container A from breakage.

The discharge or dispensing spout C includes a tubular extension c adapted to depend in contained iiuid B and having a check-valve structure c at its lower end, which latter, in turn, includes a ball-retaining chamber 4 communicating with the bore of the tube c and formed in its bottom wall with a liquid-passage 5 communicating with the container A, the passage 5 at its upper end having its Wall formed with a semi-spherical valve-seat complementary to, and engageable by, a valve-member in the form of a ball 6 adapted under gravity by its weight to normally seal the passage 5 against relluX of the soap liquid from the tube cinto the container A.

At its upper end, the conduit C is supported for rotatory movement in and through the end wall of the cap E by means of a swivel-packing connection H fully described in said Letters Patent No. 1,919,257. Detail description of such packing H is hence here omitted, such packing H likewise 55 comprising a plug 'I removably threaded from above into the end wall of the cap E for providing convenient access to the interior of the container A for replenishment of the liquid contents as required.

The discharge conduit C, extending thus rotarily through the swivel-packing H, is curved or laterally bent, as at 8, preferably just above the packing I-I, in such manner that the swingable outlet portion c" has a slight inclination from its base or bend 8 upwardly towards its discharge end for the accumulation of a body or column of soap-liquid in conduit C normally supported by the valve c', and the conduit C having an outlet or discharge-tip 9 arranged and constructed as in said letters patent No. 1,919,257 fully described for substantially preventing siphonic action on the iluid in the conduit C.

The means D for applying pneumatic fluid pressure upon the contents of the container A similarly includes a suitable pneumatic foot-pump IIl for disposition either on the floor beneath the basin F in convenient reach for foot-actuation by a user, as shown in Figure 1, or upon the base g' of the movable stand G, as shown in Figure 4. The pump chamber (not shown) of the pump I0 communicates with a suitable flexible conduit J of suitable length for connection with the container A for air-supply thereto, the conduit J, for such purpose, being engaged over the suitably formed communicating end of a nipple K having an externally threaded end-portion II for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The bracket E, as shown, is lengthwise bored and thereby provided with a main longitudinally extending passage or duct I2, which at its one end is preferably diametrically enlarged and opens, as at I3, upon the rear ilat face of a preferably integrally formed bracket attachmentilange I4, the bore I2 at its said open end I3 being internally threaded for removably, in one type of installation, receiving a closure in the form of a plug L.

Opening to the exterior adjacent the flange I4 and communicating with the enlarged portion of the bore I2, is a secondary transverse bore I5 diametrically sized and threaded to selectively removably accommodate, in one type of installation, the threaded-extension II of the nipple K.

It maybe stated here that the threaded endporti0nI3 of the main bore `I 2 and the secondary bore I5 are of like thread-pitch and diametrical size, as are also the nipple-extension II and the closure L, so that, for'purposes presently appearing, the bore end-portion I3 and the bore I5 interchangeably accommodate and receive the nipple-extension II or the closure-plug L.

The bracket E is also formed with a pair of spaced laterally disposed and internally threaded secondary bores I6, I1, each communicating at an end with the main bore I2 and opening at its other end to and upon the under face of the bracket E.

The bore I6 is sized and threaded to receive a check valve I8 comprising a ball I9 normally gravity held by its own weight in valve-closure position and capable of moving upwardly to permit air to flow into the passage I2 when the pressure in the latter drops below atmospheric pressure; and the bore I1 is so located to accommodate an inlet-tip 2|] suitably bored for communication at its upper end through the secondary bore I1 with the main duct I2 and provided with a horizontally extending preferably diametrical passage 2I for communication with the interior of the rewhen the foot pump I0 is actuated, compressed air will pass through the conduit J and nipple K into the duct or passage I2 of the bracket E', forcing the check-valve ball I9 downwardly into closed position. Thus, the compressed air will pass through the passage I2 and downwardly through the inlet-tip 20 and its passage 2l into the interior of the receptacle A, subjecting the contained liquid soap, antiseptic solution, or other fluid B to pressure and forcing liquid B` through the valve o' into and upwardly through the conduit C and thence outwardly through the nozzle or tip 9 for use and consumption.

Such eilluX of soap liquid B will continue until the pressure on the inside of the receptacle A has dropped to atmospheric pressure. By reason of inertia and siphoning action, the liquid will tend to continue eiiiux for a short instant of time after the pressure inside the container A has been restored to atmospheric pressure. Such flow continuance will, however, effect a slight amount of vacuum within the container A, which condition will, in turn, cause the check-valve I9 to move upwardly, admitting a small amount of atmosphere to relieve the momentary abnormal condition. thus resulting in a sharp and precise stoppage of liquid efllux from the tip 9.

Ordinarily, when the flow of liquid B has ceased, the column of liquid standing in the conduit-extension c of conduit C would fall back into the receptacle A until the liquid levels in the conduitportion c and receptacle A, respectively, are the same. With such a result, liquids which might accidentally be brought into the tip 9 would be siphoned back into the container A, and the upper portion of the conduit C would be emptied and hence the iiow of liquid out of the tip 9 would not be immediately responsive to the application of pressure through the pump I0. Such result is hence prevented by the valve c', the member 6 of u which will move into closed position as soon as the upward iiow of liquid B is stopped.

It will, of course, be evident that only a given quantity of liquid B will be ejected from the present dispensing mechanism for each operation ofthe pump I0. Such quantity will, of course, be proportional to the amount of compressed air delivered into the interior of the receptacle A at each pump actuation. This quantity, however, may be varied by adjusting the relief-valve 23 to by-pass a predetermined amount of such compressed air through the secondary port or duct 22 back to the outside atmosphere.

Thus, the unitary cap E and bracket E', which latter includes the described readily operable means for controlling and regulating air pressure flow to the supported container A, enable convenient installation of the apparatus in connection with a stationary or other such stand F.

The unitary cap E and bracket E equally uniquely enable convenient installation of the liquid-container A upon a portable stand or the like, as shown in Figures 4. and 5.

As shown in Figure 3, when the cap E is mounted upon a stationary stand, as the basinapron I, the nipple-extension Il is threaded into the secondary bore I and the open-end I3 of the main bore I2 is plugged by the closure L. However, in the event that it is desired to mount one or more of the liquid-containing receptacles A on a portable stand or the like G, the closure L and the nipple K may be respectively removed and interchanged. Thus, the stand G may include an upright stand in the form of a hollowpost g having at its upper extremity a communicating hollow cross-head 24. The extension I I of a nipple K is then fitted into the threaded endportion I3 of the main bore l2 and a plug L fitted into the bore I5, the nipple K engaged with a conduit J, and the conduit J inserted to depend through the post g' for engagement suitably at the base g with a conveniently disposed pump D, the attachment-flange I4 being also suitably, as shown, secured to an end face of the crosshead 26. In a similar manner, a second or companion container A may be mounted upon the opposite end-face of the stand cross-head 24.

Thus the combination cap and bracket E, E', which may be readily manufactured, may be selectively utilized in different types of installation, each artistic and eiicient; and it will be understood that, while I have illustrated practical embodiments of my invention, changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the dispensing apparatus may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In fluid dispensing apparatus, a fluid-container supporting-bracket having a duct for the flow of air under pressure to the supported container, said duct having a pair of internally threaded inlet-openings of the same diametrical size, a plug, and a nipple, said plug and nipple being interchangeably mounted in said inletopenings for selectively closing one of said openings and communicating the other opening with a source of air under pressure.

2. In fluid dispensing apparatus, a fluid-container supporting-bracket having a duct for the flow of air under pressure to the supported container, said duct having a plurality of inlet-openings, and means including a plug and a nipple interchangeably mounted in said inlet-openings for selectively closing one of said openings and communicating the other opening with a source of air under pressure.

3. In iluid dispensing apparatus a supporting bracket integrally including a closure cap for engaging a fluid container and an outwardly extending supporting arm provided with an elongated bore terminating at its inner end in an outlet duct opening upon the undersurface of the closure cap for communication with the interior of the fluid container, and at its other end terminating in a diametrically enlarged passage provided with a pair of inlet-openings, said arm being further provided with a first intermediate duct opening at ,its inner end upon the bore and at its outer end upon the face of the arm for receiving a check-valve, said arm further being provided with a second duct positioned between the first duct and the outlet duct, and opening at its inner end into said bore and at its outer end upon the outer face of the arm for receiving an adjustable pressure relief valve.

4. In fluid dispensing apparatus a supporting bracket integrally including a closure cap for engaging a fluid container and an outwardly extending supporting arm provided with an elongated bore terminating at its inner end in an outlet duct opening upon the undersurace of the closure cap for communication with the interior of the iluid container, and at its other end terminating in a diametrically enlarged passage provided with a pair of inlet-openings, said openings being angularly disposed at substantially 90 degrees to each other, said arm being further provided with a first intermediate duct opening at its inner end upon the bore and at its outer end upon the face of the arm for receiving a checkvalve, said arm further being provided with a second duct positioned between the rst duct and the outlet duct, and opening at its inner end into said bore and at its outer end upon the outer face of the arm fcrreceiving an adjustable pressure relief valve.

5. In fluid dispensing apparatus a supporting bracket integrally including a closure cap for engaging a fluid container and an outwardly extending supporting arm provided with an elongated bore terminating at its inner end in an outlet duct opening upon the undersurface of the closure cap for communication with the interior of the fluid container, and at its other end terminating in an inlet passage, said arm being further provided with a first intermediate duct opening at its inner end upon the bore and at its outer end upon the face of the arm for receiving a check-valve, said arm further being provided with a second duct positioned between the first duct and the outlet duct, and opening at its inner end into said bore and at its outer end upon the outer face of the arm for receiving an adjustable pressure relief valve.

CHARLES F. POLLNOW. 

